Readers answer our question: What was the best of your 2013?

The best thing that happened to me in 2013 was being able to marry my husband after 25 years together.

In a small ceremony with our mothers and a few of our many brothers and sisters and other family, plus friends of many years, we celebrated our two and a half decades together by exchanging vows and reaffirming our love for each other, and for our family and friends.

I cannot think of anything better this year, or for that matter, anything better in the last couple of years.

I wish that everyone is one day able to share the same happiness and joy we both experienced, and continue to have together for the rest of our lives.

— Jim Medina, Long Beach

No longer helpless, city begins its turnaround

The best of 2013? In San Bernardino, for the first time in a long time — we’ve got hope.

There are so many people who love our city. Many have felt helpless, that change would never come. That the bankruptcy, and those who helped to cause it, would tear our city further down.

In 2013, something changed. A few individuals said “no more,” and put their money where their mouths are. The citizens responded. They realized we had been held under bondage, and voted to recall two decades-long obstructionists: former City Attorney Jim Penman and former 7th Ward City Council member Wendy McCammack. It was time. It had been time for so long to take back our city.

The process has begun. When I go to City Hall or City Council, the change there is palatable. Employees — those who are left — are smiling and talking to one another. Perhaps symbolic, perhaps not.

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One of the best gifts you can do for our city — for the future of our children — is to inform yourself and vote in the February 2014 election. Better yet, help at least three or four people who have not been engaged before to register to vote.

— Barbara Babcock, San Bernardino

Visit with grandson made possible with surgery

I lost over 100 pounds thanks to gastric bypass surgery, but that isn’t the best thing. My grandson is in the Army and spent a year in South Korea. Now he’s stationed in Kansas, so near yet so far.

Because of my weight loss, my daughter and I were able to fly to see him in October. Absolutely the best thing ever, and next year he comes home.

— Terri Glaser, Simi Valley

She hands down a lifetime of blessings bound by faith

Please pardon me for correcting you, but you referred to the goodness that happens to us as being “lucky.” Lucky implies that it just fell out of nowhere and for no understandable reason. Our good is not luck. It is God revealing himself to us.

The best thing that happened to me was to be inspired to write down all of the times I’ve asked the creator for help, over any issue, and received an answer. What I thought would be but a short task turned into a five-year project, and finally, just a week ago, I finished it — for the time being — and sent it off to Amazon’s print on demand to be made into a book for my family to remember me by.

I consider this the true history of my life and want them to remember me like that, according to all of the prayer that was answered, as it was a blessing to them as well.

As an aside, if everyone would do this, every day, they would realize how close God is, spirit and love, like the atmosphere and sunshine; and this exercise — daily gratitude — would build up their faith and understanding and bring heaven to earth.

— Marsha Cunningham, Pomona

There’s no masking joy in fulfilling long-time goal

Out of every single great thing that’s happened to me in 2013, the one that tops the list was getting to fulfill a dream goal I set for myself 10 years ago: working at Knott’s Scary Farm.

I could’ve worked there as soon as I turned 18, but life (college) gets in the way. I thought I was destined to be a fan forever until I spontaneously applied for a job as a monster.

This was hands down the most unique and fun experience I’ve had all year. It’s kind of weird that I still think about it during the holiday season. I’m having serious withdrawals!

— Neil Protacio, Baldwin Park

Readers stayed with us, joined the conversation

It has been a year of change for the Los Angeles News Group editorial board, as faithful readers of our Opinion pages know well. Yet they’ve stuck with us through a complete print and online redesign, as well as content change-ups, and for that the board is grateful.

For us, the best part of 2013 — or any year, really — is the conversation that unfolds each day on these pages, through letters to the editor and guest commentaries, and online in comments to our website, Facebook page and Twitter accounts.